Hardtail
An affordable purchase price and low weight are the main advantages of hardtails – mountain bikes without a rear shock. As there are no joints in the rear triangle, maintenance is also minimal. Only a suspension fork with 100 to 120 millimetres of travel absorbs shocks from the terrain. The downside, however, is that hardtails reach their limits more quickly on challenging terrain than their full-suspension counterparts. Hardtails are also often the first choice for marathon races due to their low weight, though in such cases they tend to be expensive race-spec hardtails. Our tip for beginners who don’t want to spend a fortune and mainly ride on easy trails: Lightweight, sporty hardtails are available from 1,300 euros. Cheaper models are often heavy, and you have to accept significant compromises in terms of features. This detracts from the riding experience. Do you want to venture onto technical terrain, but a full-suspension bike is beyond your budget? Then go for what are known as Trail hardtails. Greater fork travel, telescopic seatposts and thick tyres improve off-road capability. Other niche products in the hardtail category include mountain bikes with rigid forks and so-called Fat bikes. Due to the lack of front suspension, these are suitable for Bikes with rigid forks Only for easy, undemanding trails. They’re also popular for bikepacking. Fat bikes In contrast, they stand out thanks to their extra-wide tyres, measuring between 4 and 4.8 inches, and make cycling possible in places where you can no longer ride a normal bike – particularly on sand and snow.
- Weight: 8 to 15 kilos
- Suspension travel: 100–140 millimetres
- Price: Good models from 1,300 euros
- Special features: Most models have space for two bottle holders
Race or marathon full-suspension bike
The marathon full-suspension bike is efficient, light and fast. This type of bike is aimed primarily at performance-oriented mountain bikers. The 100 to 120 millimetres of suspension travel at the front and rear provide significantly more comfort and grip than a hardtail. This makes these lightweight full-suspension MTBs ideal for long rides too. If you’re looking for a lightweight touring bike for tougher terrain, a ‘Down Country’ bike might be of interest. This relatively new sub-category is also known as a sport-tourer. For these Down-country bikes Manufacturers are taking their marathon full-suspension bikes and fitting them with a longer suspension fork (usually 120 mm), a dropper seatpost and thicker tyres. This makes for more fun on the descents without compromising on efficiency. Good Marathon full-suspension bikes and sports tourers are available from 3,500 euros.
- Weight: 10 to 12 kilos
- Suspension travel: 100–120 mm
- Price: Good models from 3,500 euros
- Special features: Lockout for suspension components on the handlebars, lightweight, fast-rolling tyres
Trail bike
Suspension travel of between 120 and 140 millimetres characterises the Trail bike . It’s the all-rounder among full-suspension mountain bikes. Trail bikes offer plenty of fun on technical trails and long rides. Fitted with lightweight tyres, some models even perform well in marathons. But the trend is moving towards downhill riding. With fat tyres, these bikes can also handle spontaneous enduro rides. Yet they’re still light enough to tackle long Alpine tours. A dropper seatpost is a must in this bike category. Good trail bikes are available from around 2,000 euros.
- Weight: 11 to 13.5 kilos
- Suspension travel: 120–140 millimetres
- Price: Good models from 2,000 euros
- Special features: Retractable seat post, wide range of applications
All-Mountain
Do you want to let off steam on your mountain bike in alpine terrain? This is where all-mountain bikes really come into their own. As the name suggests, they take you over all kinds of terrain. 140 to 160 millimetres of suspension travel, dropper posts, high-grip tyres and powerful brakes are standard features on every all-mountain bike. Thanks to their upright riding position, touring full-suspension bikes allow you to pedal up the mountain in comfort. On the descents, the slack geometry and robust suspension ensure that the rider doesn’t reach their limits, even on challenging descents. You should budget at least 2,500 euros for a a good all-mountain bike invest.
- Weight: 12 to 14 kilos
- Suspension travel: 140–160 millimetres
- Price: Good models from 2,500 euros
- Special features: Retractable seat posts, high-grip tyres, powerful brakes, very comfortable
Enduro
These are the bikes for speed-hungry adrenaline junkies. Whether in the bike park, on jumps or on technical trails, they push the boundaries of what’s rideable. With up to 170 millimetres of suspension travel and extremely long geometries, they are Enduro bikes They’re designed for such high speeds that they can feel a bit unwieldy during normal riding. The generous suspension travel and robust build often mean they’re quite heavy too. So, if you place great importance on downhill performance, occasionally ride in bike parks and still want to pedal your way up the mountain under your own steam, an enduro bike is the right choice for you. Good models are available from around 3,000 euros.
- Weight: 13 to 15 kilos
- Suspension travel: 160–170 millimetres
- Price: Good models from 3,000 euros
- Special features: tyres with good grip and puncture resistance, (steel spring) shock absorbers with a reservoir